Fifteen artists entered in this year’s Plein Air Art contest, at the 16th annual Riverside Festival of the arts and their creations are currently on display at the Quadrant Book Mart & Coffee House on north 3rd street – most are for sale. First place went to local artist Ken Kewley, for his piece that featured a glimpse of the art festival renegade knitters’ booth in Riverside Park.
Art Judges for this year’s contest included Lehigh Art Professor Berrisford Boothe, local monotype artist Will Hübscher, and Northampton County Community College Art Professor Isadore LaDuca. Contestants came from a nice regional radius of approx 60 miles to get their $10.- canvas, find an inspirational spot near the rivers or downtown Easton and compete for prize money of $250, $150, and $100.
Artists painted a wide variety of subject matter in wildly different styles…
final paintings start at a super-affordable $125 and capture many beautiful local vignettes. Artist Robin Phelps from west New Jersey noted ‘this was really fun!’ Bethlehem palette club’s Paul McGinn was perched by the scenic lehigh dam where it flows into the Delaware river as he waited for a ‘decent locomotive’ to rumble west and become the star of his painting.
Easton artist Matt Nixon created a cool slice of the gun in Scott park; Matt also created the poster artwork for the 2012 Riverside Festival of the Arts.
Second place went to Easton artist Michael Schade who rendered a dreamy view from the ‘free bridge’ looking towards Easton.
Third place went to Illinois visitor Laura Gardener. Thanks to this year’s plein air art contest sponsor, new-to-Easton business Metris Arts Consulting, local artists got to really enjoy a new hands-on view of the beautiful two rivers and surrounding life… now we can enjoy the fruits of their artful eyes and labor too! Perk up your walls with one of these 24″x18″ local stunners, or buy one for a friend’s place that is in desperate need of some cool art. Check out the plein air art show, at the Quadrant – art will be here and for sale at affordable prices through Halloween.
